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Monday, June 08, 2015

CORPUS CHRISTI, and walking...walking...

...starting with a splendid Blessed Sacrament Procession from Precious Blood Church around The Borough, London Bridge. This was led by the Sunday School children carrying bunches of flowers tied up with white ribbons, and the Rector carried the Blessed Sacrament aloft beneath a great canopy, flanked by candles and incense, and followed by a good crowd of parishioners singing hymns...things finished with Benediction in the church and, finally, with the Angelus...

Then I had to hurry to Chelsea, where I had - weeks ago, without realising that the day would mean I was already busy - organised a great History Walk in the footsteps of St Thomas More. It went well, we gathered at this church, and went along the Thames to More's statue and Roper's Orchard and so on...we finished with prayers at the plaque commemorating More on the wall at Allen Hall...

I had just enough time to enjoy twenty minutes with a cold drink and a snack in the Kings Road, then caught the bus to Oxford Street and the great Blessed Sacrament Procession organised from St Patrick's Church, Soho. A packed church, and magnificent singing as all surged out into Soho Square and through the streets. Distribution of Miraculous Medals and small folded Scripture verses as we made our way through the streets, and a final Benediction in the churchyard of St-Giles-in-the-Fields, The vicar and a team of his parishioners always welcome the procession, and kindly give us wine and fruit juice aftewards, and it was good to stand around chatting in the cool evening after a looooong day...

Home late, and swapping stories with J., who had had a similarly walking day, with an afternoon of cricket, and then a dash to London to take part in the Procession led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols from Farm Street Church to St James', Spanish Place...again large crowds, a packed Benediction...